Religious group calls off Wal-Mart boycott

American Family Association's initial plans were based on retailer's decision to join national chamber of commerce for gay and lesbian businesses.

November 22 2006: 8:06 AM EST

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A group that had been rallying its millions of members to boycott Wal-Mart over the weekend following Thanksgiving has called off the move, according to its Web site Wednesday.

The Mississippi-based American Family Association had announced the boycott based on Wal-Mart joining a national chamber of commerce for gay and lesbian businesses earlier this year.

But after Wal-Mart released a statement on Tuesday about its stance on corporate donations, the association decided to withdraw the boycott plans.

The announcement said the company will not "make corporate contributions to support or oppose controversial issues unless they directly relate to their ability to serve their customers."

"We believe that Wal-Mart will remain neutral in cultural battles," the AFA said on its Web site Wednesday.